SUNKEN SUBMARINES.

Waikato Times, Volume 115, Issue 19203, 13 March 1934, Page 5

SUNKEN SUBMARINES.

SAVING THE PERSONNEL

ADMIRALTY’S DECISION.

NO SURFACE OPERATIONS

RELIANCE ON ESCAPE GEAR, mrvmi wireleso (Received March 13, 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, March 12. An Important decision taken by tho Admiralty in regard to the problem of saving life from sunken submarines was announced by Sir Bolton EyresfYlonsell, First Lord of the Admiralty in presenting the naval estimates to the House of Commons.

He stated that after the fullest consideration, the conclusion had been reached that the raising of a sunken submarine In time to save life by that means is not a feasible operation, and that the most certain —and indeed the only practical—method they knew of saving life was tlie Davis submerged escape apparatus which is now fitted to all submarines, and on which it is proposed to rely in future. This conclusion lias been reached only after the most careful Investigation of all submarine disasters in the British and also foreign navies, and in the light of experience gained by the United Stales navy in comprehensive trials.

If it were thought by men imprisoned in a sunken submarine that attempts were going to be made to raise the submarine there would no a grave danger, that in spite of their training In the use of the escape apparatus they might be tempted to await the result of salvage operations instead of saving themselves by means of the apparatus. Orders therefore, are being Issued to the effect that the salvage organisation for the sole purpose of saving submarines would not .be retained. A signal was being introduced which would tell the crew of a sunken submarine that surface vessels were present to rescue them when they come up by the Davis escape gear. “ The Admiralty had to face the facts,” said the First Lord. “There is no hope of saving life by salvage, and we have come to our decision because it is in the best interests of the submarine personnel.”